SPONSOR: Schmidt
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Veterans and Armed Forces by a vote of 16 to 1.
This bill establishes the "Disabled Veteran Property Tax Relief Act".
Beginning January 1, 2027, a disabled veteran is granted an annual property tax exemption on his or her primary residence that is proportional to the disabled veteran's disability rating. The proportional amount will be calculated as follows:
(1) For disabled veterans with a disability rating of less than 100%, the tax levied upon the primary residence must be reduced by a percentage equal to the veteran's disability rating; and
(2) For disabled veterans with a disability rating of 100%, the annual exemption must be equal to 100% of the tax assessed on the primary residence.
To verify eligibility, a disabled veteran must do the following no later than April 1st:
(1) Submit an application to the local assessor or collector;
(2) Include documentation verifying proof of the disability rating, including documentation from the US Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(3) Include proof of ownership and occupation of the primary residence.
The collector must review applications and determine eligibility of the residential property.
This exemption can carry over to the disabled veteran's surviving spouse as long as the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the qualified residence, permanently resides therein, and does not remarry. No exemption will be allowed for a surviving spouse for the tax year in which he or she remarries. The exemption for a surviving spouse must remain proportional to the disabled veteran's disability rating as of the time of the veteran's passing. The exemption can not be transferred or assigned.
Knowingly providing false information to obtain the exemption will subject an individual to a penalty twice the amount of the exemption improperly received.
The provisions of this bill will sunset six years after the effective date.
This bill is similar to HB 921 (2025); HB 552 (2025).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that rising property taxes impact disabled veterans and their families across our state. This bill would provide relief to disabled veterans that they have earned through their service and sacrifice.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Schmidt; Tony Laszacs; Missouri National Guard Association; Blake Leitch, Parmele Disability Advocate; Charles Canady; Charles A Sanders; ABATE for Missouri; and Andy Davis.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that Missouri cannot afford to do this right now. The State is currently making cuts to the budget because our revenue is down. This could decimate small towns that rely heavily on these taxes for public services.
Testifying in person against the bill was Arnie Dienoff.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: